Begonia grandis 'Simsii', Hardy Begonia, is one of the hardiest of all the Begonias and will take temperatures down to at least -5C. It appreciates a thick mulch of bark for extra protection and will form bulbils in the leaf axils, growing as a herbaceous perennial and sending up new shoots again in the Spring. Often given the name Begonia grandis ssp evansiana 'Simsii', all the evansiana epithets are now considered synonyms. Technically - to be completely accurate taxonomically - this is Begonia grandis ssp grandis. 'Simsii' has a white flower with a large yellow stamen rather than the pinkish flower but it has a slightly larger flower than the 'Alba' cultivar. Retaining the 'Simsii' as a cultivar name is a horticultural way of defining and maintaining the differences between the various forms of this gorgeous plant, now that they are all grouped together under Begonia grandis ssp grandis.

Found in Malaysia and China where it grows along the banks of streams and moist rocky cliffs on hillsides and in forested valleys, the type species was introduced to the UK by the eccentric Thomas Evans, who worked in the Treasury department of the East India Company. One of the very first exotic gardeners in the UK, Evans had a stove-house in Stepney in the early part of the nineteenth century at a time when that part of East London was still largely agricultural land and he paid other East India Company employees to bring him back exciting new botanical finds. The evansiana part of the synonym is named after him. He is also credited with introducing to the UK  - among other plants - Bletilla striata and Iris japonica. You can read more about Thomas Evans in our section on Iris japonica.

A tuberous-rooted 'cane' Begonia - vigourous in growth and capable of growing to at least 1m in height - Begonia grandis 'Simsii' is a wonderful plant that is not only extremely desirable for its hardiness but for the striking red-to-maroon veining on the soft caramel-coloured undersides of its foliage.

Utterly beautiful. Limited quantities.